NCERT Solutions for Class 4th English Chapter 9 A. Answer the following. — Let us Think
Book page 93 Updated on2026-09-19
Q1.
What does the word ‘Hekko’ mean?
Answer
The word ‘Hekko’ means “Challenging the tiger.”
The book tells us how the word is built:
‘Hek’ means to challenge.
‘Ko’ means tiger.
Join the two parts and you get Hek + ko = Hekko, “Challenging the tiger”.
Why the game got this name: In the old folk story of Nagaland, the humans challenged Aakho, the tiger. That challenge itself came to be known as Hekko. So the name keeps the old story alive.
Q2.
What are the two teams in the game called?
Answer
The two teams are called Aami and Aakho.
Aami means The Man. This team stays inside the circle.
Aakho means The Tiger. This team stays outside the circle.
The book says, “it is played as a team game between two teams: Aakho and Aami.”
How the ground is set for Hekko, as the picture on page 91 shows it: one big circle drawn on the ground, the Aami team inside it and the Aakho team outside. Two Aakho players have come in.
Why these two names: The names come straight from the folk story about “Aami” (The Man) and “Aakho” (The Tiger). Every game is like the man and the tiger challenging each other again.
Tip: No team is Aami or Aakho from the start. A toss before the game decides which team gets which name.
Q3.
How many players are there in each team?
Answer
There are 11 players in each team.
The book says plainly, “There are 11 players in each team.” So 11 play for Aami and 11 play for Aakho.
Players in the Aami team = 11
Players in the Aakho team = 11
Players on the ground in all = 11 + 11 = 22
Why so many are needed: The Aami team has to make a human chain right round the inside of the circle. A chain of only three or four children would leave big gaps. Eleven players make a chain strong enough to hold.
Q4.
What do the players in the Aami team do inside the circle?
Answer
The Aami players stay inside the circle by making a human chain — they hold on to one another so that nobody can be pulled away easily.
Inside the circle they do two jobs:
They hold the chain and try not to be pushed outside. If an Aami player is pushed out, he is out and cannot enter again.
They catch the Aakho players by surrounding them. A caught Aakho player is not released until he says “Joko”.
How the ground is set for Hekko, as the picture on page 91 shows it: one big circle drawn on the ground, the Aami team inside it and the Aakho team outside. Two Aakho players have come in.
Why a chain and not one player alone: Two Aakho players come in to push. One child alone is easy to push out. Eleven children holding on to one another are hard to move, because a push on one is shared by all. That is the whole idea of the chain.
Q5.
Why do you think the Aakho team (Tiger) must say “Joko” when they are caught?
Answer
Because “Joko” means surrender. It is the word by which a caught player admits that he has lost. Until he says it, the Aami team does not let him go.
The word does three useful things:
It is a clear signal. Everybody hears one word and knows the player has given up. Nobody has to argue.
It keeps the game safe. The moment the word is said, the holding stops, so no one gets hurt.
It keeps the game moving. Once a player surrenders, the next Aakho player can enter the circle.
This question begins with “Why do you think…”, so you may give your own reason. Any of the three above is a good answer.
How the ground is set for Hekko, as the picture on page 91 shows it: one big circle drawn on the ground, the Aami team inside it and the Aakho team outside. Two Aakho players have come in.
Sample answer: I think the Aakho player must say “Joko” because that word means surrender. It tells the Aami team that he has given up. Then they let him go and the next Aakho player can come in. Without this word the players would keep holding each other and someone could get hurt.
Something to notice: Many games have such a word. In kho-kho and kabaddi the referee’s whistle does the same job. One agreed signal stops the play at once, and everyone obeys it.